COUNTY OF LEHIGH

Office of Public Information

Government Center

17 South Seventh Street

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18101-2401

Phone: 610-782-3001

Fax: 610-820-3615

 

Donald T. Cunningham, Jr., County Executive

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                       CONTACT:

July 11, 2006                                                                                     Frank Kane

                                                                                                            (610) 782-3304

 

Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, Board of Commissioners Move Quickly to Preserve Lehigh County Farmland

Lehigh is first  county in Pennsylvania to opt into new state farmland preservation incentive program

 

Allentown – Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham today announced plans to make Lehigh the first county in Pennsylvania to protect and preserve farmland by opting into a new state open space and farmland preservation incentive program. 

 

            “Farmland is one of Pennsylvania’s most important assets,” said Cunningham.  “This new farmland preservation program is fiscally responsible, because the savings will have a meaningful impact on the bottom line of our farmers and save farmland from development, while the net loss to our taxpayers as a whole will be small.  It’s a case of maximum effect for a minimal investment.” 

 

            Cunningham and the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners plan to opt Lehigh County in to Act 4 of 2006.  The act, recently passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, amends current open space legislation to permit local government units to freeze tax millage rates on certain categories of open space, including farmland in exchange for the property owners giving up development rights.

 

            Under the act, both home municipalities and school districts must also agree to the freeze in order for the rate freeze to take effect.  So far, Southern Lehigh School District and Lower Milford Township have also agreed to the freeze.

 

            “The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners and I urge other counties, municipalities and school districts to follow Lehigh County’s lead and opt into Act 4 of 2006,” said Cunningham.

 

            The proposed move will be voted on by the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners at tomorrow night’s biweekly public meeting.

 

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